In this guide

ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric condition in kids and teens. It involves significant problems maintaining attention, focusing on activities such as schoolwork, and curbing impulses generally. Such issues can be quite serious for schoolchildren, and often the symptoms continue into adulthood. It is also the most commonly studied psychological disorder, and has been a source of controversy for decades. Many people claim that it is over-diagnosed, and some believe that ADHD does not exist at all. More contentious still are the questions of what causes ADHD, and how best to treat it. Medications are commonly used, but there is a strong backlash against their use as well. There are many open questions around this disorder, and plenty of research yet to be done.

ADHD Rush Hour

The issues surrounding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are fiercely debated. Who decides when rambunctious behavior has become a psychiatric concern? Do the benefits of Ritalin outweigh its risks? Is ADHD even a true disorder, or just another way for pharmaceutical companies to make money? This program speaks with students diagnosed with ADHD and to nearly a dozen medical and academic experts about its identification and treatment. Pediatrics professor William B. Carey believes that ADHD is being overdiagnosed, and Dr. William Pelham describes a successful treatment plan based on behavior modification—even as young people with ADHD praise the positive results of taking their meds. Other topics include genetic factors, medication risks, teachers as diagnosticians, and the centuries-long history of medicalizing hyperactivity. (76 minutes)